When your town’s largest venue is best known for hosting pro wrestling, monster trucks, and puppets, you have a culture problem. But for Mankato residents that like to pretend that they live in a city and not merely a “retail hub,” the Craft Beer Expo is the sexiest utilization of our publicly-subsidized corporate monolith.

The event features music (from the likes of The Last Revel), seminars for hop nerds, Natedogs, and, well, beer. Lots of it.

VIP tickets are $45, while general admission is $35. You’ll pay an extra ten bucks if you buy ’em at the door. Seem steep? It’s not. Seriously: check the program. With reps from Boulevard, Deschutes, Fulton, Green Flash, Lagunitas, Lucid, and Surly (as well as the ghost of Boston Brewing), you’re going to get every damned penny’s worth, even if you’ve recklessly ruined your palate with IPAs and Islay scotch.

Like me. *sadface*

For real-time updates that may or may not actually happen, follow us on Twitter and/or Instagram, and stop back later this week for a recap. ‘Til then, listen to Duffy’s Cut.